Halfmoon standoff ends with arrest

April 17, 2017 01:41 PM

HALFMOON - A standoff that began around noon Sunday at a mobile home park in Halfmoon is over. The standoff ended just before 8 a.m. Monday when tear gas forced a 39-year old man outside. He's charged with violating an order of protection. More charges are expected.

After 20-hours of a standoff with Michael Davis, armed in the house he once shared with his wife and three boys, he was patted down and led away in custody at the Halfmoon Heights Mobile Home Park.

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"When it appeared that they seemed to be not going anywhere, we inserted gas into the house this morning and the subject exited the residence," said Capt. John McCarthy with the New York State Police.

A close family friend tells NewsChannel 13 Davis, the father of three boys, had shown up Sunday, spoke to his older sons on the basketball court -- ages 11 and 7 -- before heading down to the house where his wife and youngest, a four-month-old was. Police say he went in armed with a shotgun and they quickly ran out. A neighbor called 911.

"We do know that he did state he that had a gun inside the house," explained Lt. Rich Anguish with the NYSP BCI.

"There was brief periods where he stopped communicating with us, but never for very long. We were in pretty much constant contact with him," said McCarthy.

The back windows where the State Police fired several tear gas canisters into the trailer home are clearly shattered and broken. It is a sharp contrast to the large yard that still holds Christmas decorations, a huge playset and lots of other children's toys.

"We would have stayed longer if we felt that negotiations could still bear fruit. At some point, you realize you’re not getting anywhere. Then, you make other decisions," said McCarthy.

It's the same house Davis had been talked out of 11 days ago in another standoff. He was released from custody soon after but was issued an order of protection. Now, police say he violated that order when he returned Easter Sunday.

"He did have certain demands but in any negotiation, there has to be some give and take, which he was not willing to participate in that," said Anguish.

Police blared sirens at the house Sunday night and Davis told them to keep it down. They said they weren't going anywhere and showed him so Monday morning.